Bomber blazes to Bill Collins Speed Star success
BLAZIN' Bomber has defeated some of the fastest greyhounds in training to be crowned the 2016 Group 3 Bill Collins Speed Star champion at Sandown Park on Thursday night.
The series saw eight greyhounds meet for four two dog match races, with the Darren Pattinson-trained son of Kinloch Brae and Absolute Stunna lining up against Dundee Osprey in the first match race. Jumping well from box three, the black dog rolled straight to the early lead and never looked in danger, cruising to the line to score in a sensational 29.09 over the 515m trip.
The second match race saw the Jason Thompson trained pair of Invictus Rapid and Dalgetty go head to head. When the lids flew open, Dalgetty was slow into stride and gave his kennel mate a big start. Coming out of the first turn and the Group 1 Temlee winner knuckled down to the task, ranging up beside Invictus Rapid before the two bumped coming off the back, with the brindle dog quickly regaining his momentum and hitting a narrow lead in the run to the line to record a 29.32 win.
The third match race featured another two runners from the Jason Thompson camp, with litter mates Buck Forty and Burn One down fighting out another close finish, with Burn One Down coming from behind to claim the win in 29.27.
Major Jackpot pinged the lids in the fourth and final match race, going straight to an early lead over Queensland bitch Outside Pass. Swinging for home and the Sunshine State visitor quickly started cutting back the margin, but bumped heavily with the leader when going for an inside run, costing her valuable time in the charge towards the finish, stopping the clock 29.25.
Each match race winner collected a $10,000 cheque, with Blazin' Bomber awarded an additional $15,000 bonus for being the fastest winner.
Group 3 Bill Collins Speed Star – full results
BLAZIN' BOMBER Darren Pattinson 29.09
OUTSIDE PASS Tony Apap 29.25
BURN ONE DOWN Jason Thompson 29.27
BUCK FORTY Jason Thompson 29.31
DALGETTY Jason Thompson 29.32
INVICTUS RAPID Jason Thompson 29.35
MAJOR JACKPOT Anthony Azzopardi 29.38
DUNDEE OSPREY Geoffrey Scott-Smith 29.43